They said Operation Sodom, as it has been dubbed, started on Tuesday 21 September, when the heads of all three branches of the Colombian military, the police and the Ministry of Defence met in Bogota to finalise details of the attack.
In the early hours of Wednesday 22 September, 78 aircraft headed for the area known as La Escalera in the Macarena mountain range in Meta province.
They dropped dozens of bombs on Mono Jojoy's camp, which Defence Minister Rodrigo Rivera has described as "the mother of all lairs" for its size and the number of hidden tunnels it had.
About 400 members of the Colombian special forces then abseiled from helicopters and surrounded the camp.
After hours of fighting, another 400 soldiers and police moved in on the camp, taking it in the early hours of Thursday morning. What can I say? This is an incredible stroke of luck for the Colombian government in their war against the FARC, and bravo to them for pulling off such an operation.
The first thing that jumped up at me was how they were able to find out who the boot manufacturer was that Mono used to make his custom made jungle boots. Because from that little tip, this entire operation was grown. Basically, once they had a fix on these boots, they were able to slip a GPS tracking device into them and follow the path these boots made from shop to secret jungle camp.
Once the location was found, you can see from the quote up top that the government forces quickly took advantage. They knew what they had, and they put everything they had into being successful.
The use of their Embraer Super Tucanos in this operation is very interesting. With these things, the cost of the air operation is significantly cheaper. This aircraft is also getting a lot of looks from other countries who are fighting insurgencies where their enemies do not have jet aircraft or any serious air power. The reasoning here is that why use multi-million dollar jets that cost thousands of dollars an hour to fuel and maintain, when you can accomplish the same task with cheaper prop aircraft? Colombia is definitely proving the validity of the concept.
The capture of computer hardware is impressive as well. I would suspect that the FARC is sweating bullets right now because everyone on Mono's hard drive will now be a target. Expect to see more clean up operations designed to demoralize the FARC, and drive them to either dissolve or just surrender. I certainly hope that Colombia is able to break their will and sink this pathetic drug fueled organization. (Mexican drug cartels, you're next. lol)
Now onto some lessons here. The whole GPS in the boot trick is pretty damn cool and I think any chance we can do the same thing with other enemies in today's various insurgencies would be a good thing. I say the smaller you can make the device, the better, and make it sturdy enough to insert in all and any objects. Even troops in Afghanistan could be putting GPS devices in all types of things that the enemy could possibly pick up and want to use. These devices should not be just the tools of specialists, and they should be viewed as the tool of modern day combat trackers.
One area that the GPS trick might be well served, is in the endeavor to track animals for anti-poacher operations. Eeben Barlow talked about the Rhino poaching problem in South Africa the other day, and I think small GPS tracking devices would be very helpful in anti-poaching operations.
Better yet, Joseph Kony of the LRA could be tracked using the same method the Colombians used against Mono Jojoy. Either set up some child's AK with a GPS in the stock, or introduce several of these devices somehow into the possession of this group. Any way possible to track these folks should be looked at and planned for. If you strive to know your enemy, you should be able to find some weakness or opening at one point in your hunt for him. The imagination is the only limit and the pay off would be incredible. -Matt I realize this is a duplicate from previous posting, but I thought the ramp photo of the 463L pallet of FARC was noteworthy.
#1
You can not deliver a death blow to FARC, because FARC will not be delivered a death blow! I, Mojo Jojo, shall not sign for the delivery, and the delivery shall not be signed for!
#2
Who wrote this, a ten-year-old? LRA? WTF? Anti-poaching operations? How does that fit into anything? "Stroke of luck"? No, it was good planning and hard work.
The author is an idiot, you can tell by his wandering train of thought which fixes on GPS as a magic bullet for his pet problems.
#4
Perhaps not the best written article, but I saw a howler in the Boston Herald yesterday. And the story was no where near as interesting. Funny how this one escaped the MSM. Thanks, Besoeker.
Although no final decision has been made because of family considerations, ABC News has learned that White House officials are preparing for Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to announce on Friday -- as Congress adjourns for recess -- that he is leaving his post to explore a run for mayor of Chicago.
Former Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler (Fla.) on Saturday endorsed Independent Party candidate Charlie Crist in Florida's three-way contest for the Senate.
The office of Rep. Kendrick Meek (Fla.), the Democrat vying for the seat, was quick to downplay the news, with front man Adam Sharon telling the Orlando Sentinel that Wexler's decision was a "friendship endorsement, not a political endorsement."
Posted by: Fred ||
09/27/2010 14:25 ||
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#1
Wexler's decision was a "friendship endorsement, not a political endorsement."
"one asshole to another"
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/27/2010 17:59 Comments ||
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#2
"one asshole to another"
One weasel to another, Frank.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/27/2010 18:10 Comments ||
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#3
"you say tomayto, I say tomahto"
Lol Barb. I can live with "weasel", but that doesn't change the fact they're both assholes
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/27/2010 18:40 Comments ||
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#4
True, Frank.
Can't decide if they're weasel assholes or asshole weasels.
Not that it matters....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/27/2010 18:44 Comments ||
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Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) released a new campaign ad emphasizing his ties to the former Republican president at a time when most Democrats are pummeling Bush, and warning that GOP wins this fall would mean a return to Bush-era policies.
"When George Bush proposed a Medicare prescription drug benefit, Earl Pomeroy voted yes, putting seniors before party," the ad says, depicting Bush at a signing ceremony for Medicare Part D.
"Earl joined Republicans to fight internet predators; fighting for kids," the ad later says, playing up a bill to toughen laws against sex offenders.
The spot is an unusual effort by a veteran politician, who was first elected in 1992, to embrace Republicans and, in particular, Bush.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/27/2010 14:24 ||
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House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) warned Republicans will investigate President B.O.'s birthplace if they take over Congress.
Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House, said Republicans will grind the government to a halt by issuing subpoenas against the B.O. regime over a number of issues if they take power. He predicted that "gridlock" in Congress would "define" Obama's first term if Republicans win the House, but expressed confidence his party would prevail.
Clyburn noted that Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking Republican on the House Oversight panel, has said will will issue "subpoenas everywhere" if Republicans win the majority.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/27/2010 14:22 ||
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#1
predicted that "gridlock" in Congress
For many, many years gridlock has been the best condition for Washington, District of Criminals.
#2
In several States it is now required that candidates must present legal proof of eligibility for office. To include a legal copy of the Birth Certificate, not proof of birth. That should be interesting.
#3
After 2 years as president he ought to be able to produce any document he wants to--kind of like the Chinese government producing passports which 'proved' that their gymnasts were all of age.
Rick Lazio will drop out of the governor's race today, withdrawing from the Conservative Party line, a source told DN Capitol Bureau Chef Ken Lovett. Lazio is scheduled to make an announcement about his future as the gubernatorial nominee of the state CP at a noon presser today.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/27/2010 14:20 ||
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[Washington Examiner] Stung by political setbacks and scrambling to avoid a repudiation of Democrats at the polls this November, a coalition of labor unions and liberal activist organizations is planning what it calls "the biggest progressive demonstration in decades" at the Lincoln Memorial next Saturday, October 2.
The march, called "One Nation Working Together," is sponsored by the AFL-CIO, the NAACP, the Service Employees International Union, La Raza, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, the Rainbow Push Coalition, the Campaign for America's Future, and several other activist groups. The event is also being promoted by Organizing for America, the permanent wing of the Obama presidential campaign, which is sending out email notices to members asking that they travel to Washington to take part.
"Hundreds of thousands of people from across America will gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate our re-commitment to change," organizers say. "The One Nation march will feature human and civil rights leaders, labor leaders, environmental and peace muscle, faith leaders, celebrities and sports figures..."
In addition to the main organizers, participants will also include left-wing fringe groups like International ANSWER, Code Pink, and the Communist Party USA.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/27/2010 09:07 ||
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#1
wanna guess how much trash and junk they'll leave behind? Beck's rally left it spotless
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/27/2010 10:19 Comments ||
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#2
Fringe groups? Those are mainstream. Liberals really believe in that shit, they just can't say so publicly.
#4
The first American 'Revolution' had its Tories too. When the Brits used Indian auxiliaries during the Sarasota campaign the Tories in the area sat it out or joined the other side. They were stronger in the south, till Kings Mountain when they got Tarleton's Quarter, fading back into the woodwork afterward.
So, yes, bring the hard core anti-American crowd while accusing the Tea Party of being 'racists'. Let the blogsphere shine with images of non-planted commies and their traveling companions.
#5
The march, called "One Nation Working Together," is sponsored by the AFL-CIO, the NAACP, the Service Employees International Union, La Raza, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, the Rainbow Push Coalition, the Campaign for America's Future, and several other activist groups. The event is also being promoted by Organizing for America, the permanent wing of the Obama presidential campaign, which is sending out email notices to members asking that they travel to Washington to take part.
#11
sponsored by the AFL-CIO, the NAACP, the Service Employees International Union, La Raza, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the American Federation of Teachers, the Rainbow Push Coalition, the Campaign for America's Future, and several other communist activist groups.
#15
I would love to see some well-documented photographic evidence comparing the grounds of the Lincoln memorial and National Mall after the Beck rally and this one. My liberal friend made a stink about all the out-of-towners coming into DC for the Beck rally and implored them to "leave the grounds as you found them." Of course, she made no mention of it after the fact because it was left virtually spotless. So I'd love to show her how America-loving citizens of moderate political persuasion treat our public grounds versus these America-hating left wingers who want to see the USA as we know it destroyed and replaced with their notion of a socialist/Marxist utopia.
#17
Private Eye- Given that most of the "attendees" will most likely be professional protesters bought and paid for by the various unions and labor groups behind the event, I would expect nothing less. I just want to show the evidence to my friends, if it exists, so they can see the difference in civility between the two groups.
Some of my friends are of the set that believe most of the Tea Party/Beck crowd are fear-mongering white racists who are too dumb for their own good. As you might expect, they get most of their news and commentary from John Stewart and Colbert. Of course, I'm forever pointing out that their accusations and stereotyping are no different than claiming they are all reverse fear-mongering, reverse racist elitists who think they (i.e. the government) have a right to tell other people how they should live their lives because it's more "fair" or "for the common good". Other than that, I promise you they are lovely people.
#18
Yes siree, the original, one and only Astroturf(tm). Not some 'grass roots' made in the America heartland by non-union labor mom and pop working every day and trying to make a living by honest work. Nope, the original for hire with grants and payroll deductions to make for MSM political theater to impress the rubes.
#19
It might be interesting to have a video of the hundreds of buses used to bus in the 'grassroots protesters' to the event. they must have some sort of organization to unload the buses and reload them for the trip over afterwards.
Isn't Organizing for America funded by the government? Or has received Tarp/Stimulus funding?
#20
Hundreds of empty buses? In Springfield, MA 3 signed up out of 2000. In Worcester, 4 have signed up, out of 3000. A whopping 42 are signed up from New Brunswick, NJ...8 will be there from Boston. lol.
So far, about 800 total have committed. Those should probably be committed lol.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/27/2010 17:53 Comments ||
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#24
A perfect opportunity to use stimulus money to refurbish all those Big Giant Puppets, or fund street entrepeneurs bulk purchases of Che t-shirts and Mexican flags...
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Although no final decision has been made because of family considerations, ABC News has learned that White House officials are preparing for Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to announce on Friday -- as Congress adjourns for recess -- that he is leaving his post to explore a run for mayor of Chicago.
Stung by political setbacks and scrambling to avoid a repudiation of Democrats at the polls this November, a coalition of labor unions and liberal activist organizations is planning what it calls "the biggest progressive demonstration in decades" at the Lincoln Memorial next Saturday, October 2.
